Trivial Pursuit?

During the Middle Ages, a traveller stopped at the stately palace of a king. He was welcomed inside by the king of the palace, whose heart’s desire was to show his visitor the beauty and splendor of his habitation. As the two strolled from room to room, the visitor received the impression that nothing had been spared in building this mansion. This visitor’s inward thought, no doubt, was that this king had the availability of know-ledgable architects and skillful workmen at his disposal, and the money to fulfill his heart’s desires. After having visited the whole palace, the king brought his visitor to a door which, when opened, displayed a most costly and beautifully arrayed room. It was here that the visitor would have his living quarters for the length of his stay. The king then stated, “I believe you have observed that this palace has all the beauty, splendor and riches anyone could desire. However, there is yet one thing I must tell you before I leave. This palace with all its magnificence has a poor foundation, and many have expected it to crumble long ago.” When made aware of the precarious condition of this outwardly beautiful palace, the man exclaimed, “Although this palace is filled with magnificence, costly items, beauty and riches, if the foundation is not secure, it is not safe for me!” With this statement, the visitor immediately left the palace.

Young friends, what are you seeking to beautify? A serious question for which we must have an answer.

Within the last ten years, the Lord has highly favored you as children and young people with the opportunity to attend a Christian school where God’s Word has been at the center of all instruction. From day to day you have received, or still receive instruction regarding your eternal welfare. Are you striving to possess and beautify that foundation? You have also received much instruction and hopefully achieved some knowledge regarding temporal matters. However, is it earthly knowledge and attainment of temporal things which is of greatest value to you? Ask yourself the question: What possesses all my time? Is it my outward appearance, fashion, sports, boys, girls, alcohol, drugs, sex, partying, being accepted by my peers, or constant attainment of knowledge and recognition in earthly wisdom? It is necessary to study diligently those temporal lessons taught us in our various subjects, but is that where our emphasis and all our strength is expended?

Earthly wisdom is important and we need it to get through life, but is it the foundation which will endure a trial? “Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is” (1 Cor. 3:13).

My friends, you have received daily Biblical instruction, but a question must be asked: Are you resting in a false hope that all shall be well with your soul because you received and studied God’s Word and doctrine every day? Historical knowledge is to be sought diligently, but be careful of resting in a false hope and of securing a foundation whose builder and maker is not the Lord. An old Scottish divine, William Guthrie, so aptly stated, “That a man be savingly in covenant with God is a matter of the highest importance: ‘It is his life’ (Deut. 32:47). And yet very few have, or seek after a saving interest in the covenant; and many foolishly think they have such a thing without any solid ground. Few find, or walk in, the narrow way. This should alarm people to be serious about the matter, since it is of so great consequence to be in Christ.”

urge you to examine yourself for what effect your precious Christian education has had upon you. Have you beautified the outward appearance of self with knowledge as the king did with his palace, or have you earnestly sought the Lord for the Spirit’s application of all the truths taught you so that you will have that anchor of hope which is both sure and steadfast? (Heb. 6:19).

George Whitefield, who corresponded with his acquaintance Dr. Benjamin Franklin on many matters, urged him in a letter dated August 17, 1752 to still higher pursuits: “I find you grow more and more famous in the learned world. As you have made a pretty considerable progress in the mysteries of electricity, I would now humbly recommend to your diligent, unprejudiced pursuit and study, the mystery of the new birth. It is a most important, interesting study, and, when mastered, will richly answer and repay you for all your pains. One, at whose bar we are shortly to appear, hath solemnly declared, that without it we cannot enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

It is necessary to study diligently those temporal lessons taught us in our various subjects, but is that where our emphasis and all our strength is expended?

Are you relieved to be from under the daily education of our own school and glad to be at an institution of learning where God’s Word is not esteemed and where so called “freedom” is running rampant and immorality knows no bounds? If so, why? Did you find your Christian education oppressive due to kind and loving restraint and discipline? If so, then examine your foundation. Is it well-grounded and will it endure trials and temptations? Remember that this life is a journey which will have one of two ends: woeful or blissful, and what will yours be?

CHRISTIAN EDUCATION

Parents and teachers: How are we seeking to beautify and secure our children? Is it by enhancing their outward appearance or by pushing them to such high limits with earthly knowledge? We, too, can magnify the outside which man sees, but what about the foundation—what about their souls? As parents and teachers, we have a great responsibility entrusted to us from Cod and how shall we give an account on the Judgment Day if we only worried about what man saw, and our children’s outward appearance?

As a forefather wrote: “Precious, no doubt, are these little ones in your eyes; but if you love them, think often of their souls. No interest should weigh with you so much as their eternal interest. No part of them should be so dear to you as that part which will never die. The world, with all its glory, shall pass away; the hills shall melt; the heavens shall be wrapped together as a scroll; the sun shall cease to shine. But the spirit which dwells in those little creatures, whom you love so well, shall outlive them all, and whether in happiness or misery (to speak as a man) will depend on you.”

Examine your foundation. Is it well-grounded and will it endure trials and temptations?

The Lord is still beseeching all of us to repent and believe. May we be brought to see the value of our souls while upon earth so that the value of it is not realized when it is too late.

May we also encourage those whose Christian education and Biblical teachings have been taken to heart and in whose hearts have been laid impressions and concerns. Storm the throne of grace and beg for the mirror of God’s law to become your schoolmaster to drive you to Christ and His righteousness. He is a perfect Savior whose foundation is from everlasting to everlasting. May the Lord instruct us in 1 Cor. 1:26-29, “For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the things which are mighty: and base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: that no flesh should glory in His presence.” May we be able to experience by the work of God’s Spirit, the truth of 1 Cor 1:30,31, “But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: That according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.” What a blissful beginning and continuation to all eternity!

J.D. Greendyk serves as principal of the Providence Christian School in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

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